International Rose Test Garden Reviews

Lots of varieties of roses. Unfortunately, I visited at the end of the blooming season, but I can imagine what it must have been like at its peak.

A beautiful selection of roses (my favorites this year are "Twilight Zone" and "Sugar Plum"), and a large spacious area to walk around and admire them at your own speed. There's also the charming "Grande Duchesse Charlotte" rose that was planted in 1943 that can be found if you look hard enough. This park is also dog friendly, if you've got a dog who also likes to stop and smell the roses!

It's an outdoor garden and there isn't much cover, so check the weather before you head out -- and prepare sunblock or an umbrella as needed. Parking is easy (it is pay to park, however), and it's across the street from the Japanese Garden, which can make for a longer trip if you do both at the same time.

I wasn't expecting to be wowed, but I was..... So very pretty and the scent was amazing. It's a long drive in the shuttle bus from the train station, but the ride back to the station is a short one.

You are offered a huge variety of different roses. Some of them have really interesting scents. Even if you, like me, are not usually keen on roses, you can have a good time here.

By the way, there is no entrance fee, the garden is free to visit.

This is a really underrated spot in Portland, and the best part of it is that it’s free. Plenty of parking spots, and there is a lot to do in the entire Washington Park. You will be surprise of the amount of roses there are in this place. Highly recommended.

Can't go wrong with this place.

If you want to look at the best roses in the world, this is the place to go.

Variety and beauty of roses, just amazing! Well worth your time. Easy to get to by public transportation or Uber.

I wasn't sure that it would be worth going to a rose garden in early October but I was totally wrong! While not in peak bloom, there were still tons of blooms on the roses. The garden was a riot of color on a sunny day. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the garden was pretty crowded but the crowd was manageable. There is a lot of room for everyone to disperse. I could have wandered around for hours but managed to see everything in about an hour and a half.

We enjoyed wandering the rose garden and smelling different varieties. It didn't hold the attention of the young kids for long, but it was impressive.

You can smell the roses almost immediately upon entering. I must have taken 100 pictures because of the amazing beauty all around. Now I understand why Portland is called the City of Roses. And in mid-September, most were still in full bloom.

Even in the second week of September, the flowers were so beautiful. I recommend either grabbing something from the food truck, or bring a packed lunch and sit and enjoy the roses. Wonderful.

Acres of roses with a breathtaking view over the city of Portland, this oasis of color and fragrance is the pinnacle of must-visit sites in the city. From April to October roses bloom in profusion, but even in off-months the paths, occasional blooms, proximiity to downtown and wilds of Forest Park trails makes the Rose Test Garden the true heart of Portland, the Rose City. It's free. There's good bus access, train and free shuttle, and you can even walk (uphill) to here from downtown in 30 minutes.

I did the guided tour and this was very interesting learning about the different types of roses, how some of them were created. Beautiful rose garden and the biggest I've been too. A must see while in Portland.

We were lucky to come when everything was in full bloom! The flowers were gorgeous and the entire park smelled of roses! There were so many varieties you could spend the entire day there looking at them all! Surprisingly, there’s no admission to come - you do have to pay for parking but it’s worth it!

My husband and I came here one foggy and damp Sunday morning to see the roses. It was a perfect day to take pictures! If you’re looking to see the flowers in bloom, it’s best to visit May-October. (Many we’re gone when we visited in mid-November). However, the flowers we did see were gorgeous and dew-dropped. If you’re spending the day in the park, stroll through the garden, have a picnic, and take a few photos. You’ll feel like you’re in The Secret Garden.

There are so many types of roses here that it’s almost overwhelming. My favorite part was the ‘smelly-good-roses’, ones with the strongest aromas are pooled together in one area – yeah! There are roses for everyone here: Climbing, English, Floribunda, Grandiflora, Tea, Tree, Shrub, Polyantha, Miniature, and Landscape Shrubs.

Founded in 1917, it is the oldest continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. One of eleven such rose test gardens in the USA.

This tiered garden, surrounded by large trees, covers about 4.5 acres and is fairly easily walkable.

There are free public tours at 1pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day but I didn’t have a chance to attend one of them.

There is an area called the Queen Walk featuring bronze plaques that honor each Rose Festival queen since 1907 – the garden is known for its community involvement, and the Queen Walk showcases this in a unique way. There is also a small non-profit store for anything that smells, tastes, looks, feels like roses – proceeds help support the garden.

More than 10,000 individual rose bushes bloom in the International Rose Test Garden from late May through October (depending on weather), representing over 650 different rose varieties. The majority of roses in the garden are commercially available. About 10 to 20 varieties are replaced each year with some of the best new roses released onto the market.

There is a kiosk on the upper-level promenade that includes an alphabetical listing of all the roses in the Garden along with a key to locate specific roses.

The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. In the beginning, while World War I was raging, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland’s garden for testing.

Free entrance but not free parking (in June 2025 = $2.40/hr on no special event days) – they accept donations.

Well worth a short detour if, for example, you are visiting the nearby Japanese Garden, the Portland Art Museum or the Marquam Nature Park.

The variety of roses at the garden is simply amazing. One thing my wife and I noticed was how large some of them were (like three times the size of roses I've given to my wife for special events).

Even though we went on a very rainy day, there were hundreds of people present. The website is a little inaccurate. The Garden no longer does the daily tour at 1pm, but the clerk in the gift shop did loan us some documents which described the garden in more detail.

Finally, you can't beat the price (no charge)!

Even if you are not interested in visiting the Portland Zoo or the Japanese Garden nearby, it makes sense to at least visit the Rose Garden. It is free and after all, Portland is the Rose City. If coming in summer, it is probably wise to come early in order to find parking nearby and to avoid the heat.

This was one of the highlights of our visit to Portland. I've never seen so many roses in one place. Parking is a challenge. Save time and effort by taking the public transportation tram. It will let you off in the middle of the garden.

Enjoyed walking around the Rose gardens. We were a little early to see the full blooms but were starting to see the first few buds open and plenty of buds preparing to bloom. Great place to just walk around and enjoy the ambiance of Washington Park. Went on a Saturday and it was busy so we had to search a bit for a place to park. We also enjoyed the local stories about the Rose Queens and their courts.

Very disappointing. Most of the roses were well past their prime, it was hot, and the flowers looked raggedy. Sorry I wasted my time.

I'm not into flowers or gardening, but some of the roses at this place are amazing. Definitely worth a visit. Vivid colors, fantastic assortment of roses.

I should have went there when the roses are in full bloom. While I did not appreciate it that much, their store was nice. I ended up purchasing tea.

I love to see the famous places in NW region. Stop by rose garden when you travel around Portland area during the bloom season. Amazing view to Downtown, lots of tourists from all around the world and a lovely gift shop where every thing is about roses.

This rose garden is filled with a huge variety of vintage and hybrid roses. They fill acres of beds, trail over arbors, and signage tells you what you’re looking at. There’s a marvelous amphitheater area for sitting on the grass, views of the Portland skyline and special areas like the Shakespeare garden where events like weddings often happen to enchant you. One downside - the parking is virtually non-exisent. Use bus transit, ride share service and investigate parking (or taking MAX train) at the Oregon Zoo nearby and using the free bus shuttle.

Cant spend a whole lot of time here as all there is is just flowers but it was very nice. Could be good for wedding/ engagement photos

The gardens we still worthwhile seeing in late August, the gardens were well worth visiting. These 'Test Gardens' are very interesting. It was well worth seeing and quite interesting.

We strolled through here after visiting Hoyt and although it wasn't rose season yet it was fun to see the buds starting on the plants and other flowers that were budding. The gift shop is charming and sells everything rose-related, it also smells beautiful just to walk into. There is one section of the garden that has squares that list the rose of the year chronologically, it's fun to see what the rose was for special years that mean something to you. I would love to come back when the roses are in bloom!!

Lovely way to spend a morning! The rose garden is beautiful and huge, with tons of space for photos and exploring. We visited mid morning with our dog who had the best time, and it wasn’t too busy. Parking situation isn’t great but we were able to find free public parking in a turn off just up the hill from the garden. I imagine if we got there much later we would’ve had trouble though. Beautiful varieties of all kinds of roses, so glad we visited this iconic spot in Portland!

So many different kinds of roses. All different colors and kinds. So elegant and absolutely stunning. I went by myself, walked through the whole rose garden then sat there for a while just because it was so beautiful! Great area, so much to do there. The rose garden, japanese garden, the zoo, walking paths (etc) are all in the same place so lots to do. Definitely a great spot for taking pictures or just simply enjoying the beauty! Apparently this time of the year (June) the roses are in full bloom, it was amazing !

We did a quick stop over to the Rose Garden in Portland and we sure are glad we visited. The grounds are immaculate and the flowers are stunning. The bus in the park drops you off at several locations and makes for an easy transfer. Definitely visit if you have the chance!

Great location with great views. Easy to get to from downtown on the Red or Blue trimet line. It’s location in Washington Park is nice, don’t forget to use the free loop shuttle that runs every 5-10 minutes. Don’t miss the donut guy at the parking lot, the donuts are cheap and delicious...the owner is super friendly and generous. There’s a small gift shop and a well maintained bathroom facility at the top of the parking lot. I’d allot 45-60mins to get the full look of the garden.

Beautiful area of Washington Park filled with roses. No admission charge but there is a charge at the nearby Japanese garden. Also make sure to check out the nearby Holocaust memorial.

Such a beautiful place to go any time of year. Starting in May you can see the roses starting to bloom and by the middle of June it almost overwhelms the senses. Gorgeous views of Mt Hood on a clear day and just a very nice place to take a stroll. Has special meaning for my son as he wanted a special place to ask his fiancee to marry him. How much better can it get than a sunny day in June with roses in bloom and a gorgeous view of Mt Hood. Oh yes, she said yes.

We were not there at peak season,but a pleasant, fragrant experience for our first stop in Portland after bing on a plane all day. Enjoyed it and easy to navigate.

The rose garden was beautiful. It was very large with hundreds of varieties of roses and some quite unusual. It’s well worth a visit. You feel very removed from the rest of Portland which is a good thing. No homeless in this area and I felt very safe. It was a little haven here and would highly recommend.

We visited the rose garden and many are still blooming. The smell of the perfumed pathways that take you through this lovely garden only enhance the experience. It is truly a lovely experience

If you like to look at a variety of roses, this is the place for you. The garden is free to visit and is just below the Japanese garden so easy to visit should you already be in the park. There is some parking but it is limited.

Rose garden is beautiful and a nice walk. The grounds are clean and well kept. You my have trouble with parking on the weekends.Highly recommended!! A Portland must see!

We weren't sure that Roses would be plentiful this time of the year, but we were delighted to find that not only are there plenty of roses, the smells of Mother nature are wonderful! We also found the Grass Lawn Sculpture depicting Halloween and Fall symbols very impressive (the Cat was our favorite!) What a wonderful experience we had at the Rose Garden!

This is a gardeners dream come true! So many beautiful roses all in bloom at the same time and meticulously labeled so you can learn all the names. Highly recommend!

This contains one of the largest plantings and collections of roses in all shapes, sizes and smells. You also cannot beat the price. It's FREE!
Whether or not you are into horticulture this is a MUST SEE in Portland. It is next to the Japanese Garden in Washington Park.

When you're in a big city, it is always nice to go somewhere within it that is close to nature and offers a relaxing environment. The International Rose Test Garden will give you that opportunity!

I came in august, and had half a day in Portland. Yiu walk down a hill , pay to park. I found a parking spot right away. I took some fantastic shots of roses. Smell them, admire them, and wander around and enjoy, its free as well. Japenese garden and hoyt arboretum are in same vicinity.

What a romantic spot during all these crazy times. Rose smell overcame wild fire smell and we got some great pictures. Tons or roses and free. Worth a visit

Beautiful place for a walk, so many cool spots to take pictures, a little struggle to have the baby stroller since there are many stairs but still great to take your baby

This is a great place to visit if you are looking for a very serene outdoor activity. The rose garden is well laid out, and a great place to walk and take in amazing scenery. The rose garden is free and a great place to visit in Portland’s Washington Park.

We went there in Feb. As expected, there were no roses. But it was good to roam around in the garden. I am sure it would be very nice in the spring or summer

This park is something nobody should miss. It is a very lovely park that includes the Rose Garden as well as other attractions.

The International Rose Test Garden is an absolute must-see in Portland. The variety of roses is incredible, and the view of the city and Mount Hood from the top is simply breathtaking. It's a peaceful and beautiful place to spend an afternoon. A perfect escape into nature right in the city!

Beautiful rose garden, free admission, enjoyed walking around admiring all the beautiful flowers. Definitely recommend.

This park is free to sit around and enjoy. It’s pretty large considering how many roses they have. They weren’t in full bloom when we went but it still had a few that were fully bloomed. Overall peaceful and very nice location. Rating 8.3.

The Portland International Rose Test Garden in the near downtown Washington Park is one of the finest and largest rose gardens on the West Coast. (Peer public rose gardens include the one in San Jose (CA) and Butchart in Victoria, BC.) The climate and soil in Portland and in the Pacific Northwest are ideal for temperate climate gardening, including roses. This is immediately apparent by taking a delightful walking tour of the garden. It is easy to walk through the entire garden within one hour. Unfortunately, the day I visited in mid-August was overcast which reduced the vivid nature of the colors and perhaps even reduced the scents from the roses.

I am by no means a rose aficionado, but I appreciate fine gardening and struggle to grow roses in Southern California. The Portland International Rose Test Garden gives one a place to enjoy excellent gardening in a peaceful and tranquil setting. There are other gardens, nature trails, zoo, and an arboretum in Washington Park and there is a free shuttle loop to take visitors to each part of this splendid municipal park.

The International Rose Test Garden is in one area of the vast Washington Park and is about 7 acres of vibrant colors. The amazing Garden boasts of more than 10,000 individual rose bushes with 65 different varieties. It seems that every single bush was in bloom on the day that we visited. The heady fragrance was overpowering (in a pleasant way), and the rainbow of vibrant hues was awe-inspiring. You can even do the “smell test” on some roses in the Sensory Garden.

The primary purpose of this garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties – hence its name. They also offer educational programs at this place about the rose cultures. Most of the roses are commercially available, and about 10 to 20 varieties are replaced each year with some of the best new roses. Every year there are Awards for Portland’s Best Rose. It is no wonder that Portland is known as the “Rose City”.

It was worth our time here to “stop and smell the flowers” present in seemingly endless rows of aromatic flowers.

In keeping with the name, their Gift Shop had “Rose” themed curios and drinks. Very cool…!

A “Must visit” for sure.

Take your time and enjoy the thousands of beautiful roses in this garden. There is an amazing variety of award-winning roses. One of the nices things to do in Portland. Given the cost of the parking within Washington Park, I suggest either taking mass transit or parking outside of the park and walking inside.

A very pleasant visit. It is a very well maintained rose garden on a high point, overlooking the city.

I was stunned by the variety of roses grown there. As a plant lover in general, I would highly recommend visiting here when also visiting the Japanese Garden.

The variety of roses and colors is stunningly beautiful. The roses filled the air with a light scent that was exhilarating and this is a wonderful way to start your journey before going through the Japanese garden.
Be prepared for several steps down to the garden, if you have a stroller along or someone elderly in your party. There are handrails, but once you get down to the rose gardens, you will be able to see everything on one level. The main paths are paved and you are able to walk off the main path into the rows upon rows of beautiful roses. Some areas among the roses are muddier than others, but none were so bad that we needed to be concerned about our footwear.😉

An absolutely wonderful place and it’s totally free. The rose garden is Hauge and there are so many different kinds there will probably always be some in full bloom during the saeson.

Parked nearby (you do have to pay for parking).
Stroll, take photos, sit, contemplate, draw, photograph.
Had no idea there are so many variety of roses. Even in winter it was nice. I can only imagine how wonderful when all is in full bloom.

So many roses, varieties and colors. Rows upon rows of them. Tier after tier of them. All neatly kept and beautiful. A must see if you like roses.

Wife and I spent some lovely time touring the rose garden. Free and very peaceful. If you like flowers and or tranquility, this is a wonderful experience.

We didn't have much free time to explore in Portland but we were really glad that this was one of our stops. There is so much to see and everything is so well kept. The fact that this is a free exhibit too is amazing. Definitely worth a visit.

It’s a beautiful garden however the reason I only rated a 4 out of 5 is because I’m not sure if we missed the blooms or was too early for the blooms. So we didn’t see much flowers. Only got one good full bush of flowers.

This is a site we visit every time we come to Portland. The views are great. We can often see Mt. Hood. The roses are beautiful especially in June but throughout the year as well. Peaceful and enjoyable.

Portland is the city of roses, so a rose garden suits it fine. And this is an exceptional rose garden where the gardeners perfect various varieties. We were very lucky to come here at the height of the bloom and it was spectacular.

Nice place to spend a nice afternoon. But the city lacks investment to maintain it, it should expose more variety of flora.

This is a lovely, fragrant garden near the Japanese garden. It’s free to visit. Parking can be a bit tricky, since it’s so popular.

The rose gardens were amazing. There were roses of all colors sizes and shapes, it was almost overwhelming. We visited toward the end of the season, in September, and almost all of the plants had flowers on them. One thing to be aware of is that if the weather is rainy and wet, the gardens will be too. Most of the paths between the plants is grass, so it can be wet.

There is a large variety of roses in almost every color imaginable. The fragrance is calming. It is a beautiful place to be in the midst of all the roses.
We spent about 45 mins roaming through the garden and just relaxing a while on a bench.
A great place to spend a hour.

I thought spring would be the time of the year to to check out some flowers. During COVID, we thought this would be a good outdoor option that is also family friendly. We were wrong, we didn't see even one rose in the entire rose test garden. There were flowers outside of the garden, just not inside.

This a georgous garden with so many varieties of roses. Most are in bloom and the garden is extensive

Such a beautiful spot. It is part of a larger park and is free. Over 600 breeds of rose in all colors. A lovely place to walk on a summer's day.

We stopped at the International Rose Test Garden on our City Tour of Portland. The garden is immense with every variety of Rose imaginable. The roses are even arranged in the years they were planted and it serves as a history lesson in itself. Do not miss this place.

Over 4 acres of roses are a sight for the eyes. You can spend hours wandering through and appreciating the different colors & aromas.

After spending several hours in the Japanese Garden, we walked around the Rose Test Garden. Although the roses were not all in full bloom, their scents were still enjoyable.

My main reason for going to this area in the first place was to visit the Portland Japanese Garden. After waiting forever to find an available parking spot in Washington Park, I then had quite a hike ahead of me to get to the Japanese Garden. This International Rose Test Garden was in my walking route. I didn't know it was there beforehand. Since it was the middle of June, the roses were in full bloom so I stayed awhile here distracted by their beauty. As printed on the brochure, the roses are in bloom from late May through October. Also noted, a $500 fine can be imposed by Portland City Code if anyone tries to pick or remove roses or rose plants so don't even think about it.

Beautiful!! Stunning!!! Must visit. Parking was tricky, but worth waiting for. Pack a lunch and enjoy the smell and beauty of the roses! Wow!

I walked to the test garden from my hotel one morning last week. I spent a few hours enjoying the beautiful roses. It's really a spectacular place. Whether you're a rose lover or just looking to experience something beautiful in Portland, this is a must-visit.🌹

Had been here many times before, but first time in June. Great experience of the blooming flowers, smells of the roses, and the many variations. The view of the city is a bonus as well.

Even though it was in October the rose garden was beautiful. Can only image what it was like in mid season. It’s Free and has a shuttle that runs every 20 minutes.

It's hard to imagine more varieties of roses in one place and stunningly gorgeous ones all. It's free, but the parking isn't and can be tricky. Plan ahead. Yes, bring children. The nearby, easily walked to playground is a good way to round out your visit.

Lots a beautiful roses I don’t know what else to say. You can spend lots of time going through the gardens and admiring all the different varieties

This is a beautiful area. Thinking that in Sept nothing would be blooming but was mistaken. So many bushes and blooms to delight the eye as well as the aroma.

I love roses and my companion less so, though we were both astounded at the variety of roses through the garden. So lovely!

This beautiful rose garden is open for the public at no cost!
What a great concept and what a great place.
Thank you Portland for having such a gem free of charge for everyone to enjoy!
The gift shop has nice souvenirs and of course the rose lemonade

If you are a photographer, you are in for a real treat. If you are a rose lover, this is roses heaven.
Everyone else, just admire the beauty of the nature.

We went to the Rose Garden on a Portland tour. The garden is incredibly beautiful with many amazing colors of roses! If you enjoy roses and and have an hour (or more) to breathe in the fabulous view, you should go!

I love taking pictures of flowers, and this was a great place to go. We went in August and while a few of the roses were past there prime, there were still so many beautiful roses. The place smelled amazing and the volunteers kept such good care of all the plants. A great place for a nice walk

Very cute! The Japanese Garden is steps away so you can kill two birds with one stone. Great for photos and getting some nature in the city.

Hundreds of varieties of roses in the garden and no admission charge make this a no-brainer stop in Portland. Several varieties of roses help ensure some will be in bloom throughout the season. Peaceful little garden destination adjacent to the Japanese Garden. I would recommend to anyone.

This place was huge! So many roses in so many different colors and varieties. I took so many pictures.

This was one of the most beautiful rose gardens I’ve visited with an incredible variety of roses, most of them labeled. Must visit!

This place exceeded our expectations during our first visit. If you're in Portland and have a couple hours this is one of the top places you should see. The garden is free and you can walk around looking at all the many beautiful roses and areas of the garden.

A must see. I imagine we were there peak bloom time (July). So beautiful. Wear lovely clothes you want to be photographed in. Took a long walk around rest of park. Also nice, clean felt safe.

What a lovely garden! There's so much to see and so many parts to wander with an incredible variety of roses. And the best part is that it free! We spent more time here than at the Japanese Garden and found it just as relaxing to stroll through.

We spent about an hour here one afternoon. It is absolutely beautiful, with a stunning variety of roses of all shapes, sizes and scents. Highly recommend.

This massive rose garden was way beyond my expectations! I am not particularly fond of roses but I went to the Japanese Garden which is adjacent to the rose garden, so I thought I would just stop by! Hah! This garden captured my heart! I was blown away! I didn’t expect to see much in late August but many rose bushes were in full bloom. So many vibrant colors. Acres and acres of roses as far as the eye can see!
It’s a must see if you’re in Portland!

Soooo many beautiful flowers. The weather was perfect for us and it was very nice walking around looking at all the different roses.

The Rose Garden is a must visit for me every time I visit Portland. It is well maintained garden of serenity. There is no better place to immerse yourself in natures beauty. A place you can feel relaxed. There is a right way and a wrong way to see it. Do not make a fast brisk walk through the garden just to say you were there. Take it slow and easy. Enjoy the variety of Roses. It is a place where you can meditate and/or thrill in the display.

Nice place to stroll. Not very big so it is easy to do other nearby parks on the same visit. Lots of colours and photo opportunities.

Free! Beautiful gardens with a spectacular variety of roses. Did not see much information to explain the gardens but many roses are labeled. Have your camera ready!

Such a wonderful visit to the rose garden with my husband. Loved all the different roses and learning all their names. Hope to visit again in the summer if possible and see more of them.

All kinds of roses. We were surprised to see different variants of roses. All colors. Best to bring sunblock and a hat, as it gets pretty hot during summer. Lovely place to walk and hike. 2 stores at the park, 1 souvenir shop and 1 food kiosk. Be prepared to hike from the parking area to the actual garden. Must see in Oregon!

OK, so, I hope most of you made the Connection to the Queen of Hearts and Alice In Wonderland for The International Rose Test Garden is Truly a Wonderland!!! This is a rose lover and a photographer's heaven!!! I have never seen a rose garden quite like this. You could spend hours here just looking, smelling, photographing and just enjoying the endless variety of beautiful roses. This is a must visit while in the Portland area!!

Some of my friends live just outside of Portland, and they recommended this garden to me. This garden was large, but it did not go on indefinitely. It was free to access this garden, and this park contained metered parking spots, but I parked just outside of this park in the daytime for free. There was a gift shop, a food truck, and a restroom. I saw every color of flowers with regard to the large rose bushes. It was very scenic.

Awesome place to visit. A " must see". Whether you like flowers or not is extremely impressive.
You will find different types, scents and colors. The gift shop is very unique as well.

When it’s rose festival time in Portland the rose garden is a must see. Fabulous array of roses with wonderful views of Portland and Mt Hood. If you’re staying in downtown Portland it’s within walking distance. A Portland gem!

My favorite thing I did in Portland. I went in early October. I was a little worried when I first got there because some roses were dead, but plenty were alive. I took hundreds of pictures. The gift shop was less expensive than most places. It’s free so if for some reason you don’t like it then no harm no foul. I LOVED it though!

Thousands of roses. Most lated out in 6x20+ foot beds.

Tree roses, hybrids, you name it and it is here.

You can actually smell the roses when you step out of the car. I was not expecting the roses blooming in mid to late September.

I had a blast, it is super pretty and no charge.

A must stop, do this the Japanese Gardens

If you like roses, or flowers, or gardening, or just different free things, then this is a no brainer. Warning, there are a lot of roses here and it can be a bit redundant, but it’s free to the public so why not?

We enjoyed stopping by this garden on the Pink Trolley tour. It's worth walking through. I enjoy roses, but I wouldn't say I have to photograph every one. :)

Nice for a short visit even if you're not a big flower person. Just past their best when we visited mid July - June is best. However, still very pretty and colouful.. There are thousands of varieties.

Easily combined with the Japenese Garden. Almost opposite, or one of the other park attractions.

Washington Park is huge so if you don't want to walk from the train station or bus stop, look out for the free shuttle that circles the park regularly.

We, however. enjoyed the moderate 1.5 mile hiking trail through the forest, from the Trimax.

Who knew there were so many varieties of roses and they all smell so different and wonderful. Portland is lucky to have these gardens.The garden was very full, yet people seemed to be social distancing and only removing masks to smell the flowers. I feel blessed to have been able to experience. What a wonderful sight.

Absolutely gorgeous! We went in late July, so all the flowers were in bloom. Even on a Saturday, it was nit to busy and we were able to take plenty of beautiful pictures.

This is a beautiful place for a walk. It takes about an hour or maybe less to walk around. It's free, although parking is tricky. We parked by the Japanese garden about 45 min before the Japanese garden opened and then walked over to the Rose Test Garden, which is a quick walk. You can download the parking app to pay for parking. We walked around the rose garden, took pictures of our favorites. There is a rose arch to take pictures under. Very beautiful experience. I guess late June is the best time to go, and this is when we visited.

The variety of roses and wonderful aroma made this garden a walking delight. The paths are marked with grading signs so you can choose the one you're most comfortable with.

Really beautiful spot! Roses of every type cover acres on the hillside.
No charge for entry.
Free shuttle from the Oregon Zoo.

Absolutely beautiful! We came at the perfect time to see all the roses in full bloom. I've never seen so many varieties in one place. Great place to visit if you want a break from the city life.

This was a perfect place to stop and smell the roses! It smells amazing when all the roses are in bloom. A must see in June if you are in Portland.

We went for the concert in the park an opera. The amphitheatre is huge and weather was perfect for an outdoor concert. Roses were in full bloom. There is so much variety of roses in this garden, I never think I have seen enough of it.
A must see in Portland in summer

It's very special and unique place in Portland. This garden has different type of roses and its a very big garden.
Some part are so lovely, so you can sit and enjoy the nature, read or have a coffee there.
Never leave Portland without a visit there.

Great views. Beautiful flowers. Time well spent. All ages will have a great time. Easily accessible for all. A must do if you are in town during the bloom season. Amazing collection.

Set in a huge Washington park this Rose garden is a big Portland attraction.
It's free to visit contrary to the paying Japanese gardens across. Parking can be tricky and it's paying.
We've visited it in late April, but it seems the roses hadn't bloomed yet, so it was mostly a walk around grass and greenery with very few flowers.

This is a beautiful garden in Washington Park! The garden is free but you have to pay for parking.
The garden is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Dogs are allowed.

Gorgeous place to see lots of flowers, especially roses. It’s a small park with a short walk so I ideal to include elderly and disabled. Perfect spot to take pictures of couples or families. For flower lovers it’s a must-see!

Walked through here on my way to the Japanese Garden right next to it. They have rows and rows and rose of different rose varieties. In late June nearly all were in bloom. What an unexpected delight.

A beautiful spot in Portland. The Garden is best done with a docent guide. We never realized how many species of roses here were.

This place is huge. Located within the park (I think). We used public transportation during our stay so actually saw the Holocaust remembrance nearby. The Rose Gardens are quite beautiful and fragrant. It goes on forever. I’d recommend going perhaps earlier in the season as the roses in August were not in their full glory. It would be amazing big to see them when they are!

I was in the vicinity and needed to see it for myself of all the reviews. Sad to say that it was April and all the different types of roses weren’t in bloom yet. But there are other tree flowers in full bloom! Plus there are other beautiful attractions nearby; parks and Japanese Garden. Since it’s FREE, parking is tough.

Must visit when in Portland!Even though we were there in late October still had some rose blossoms.Nice relaxing atmosphere and it is free

What a lovely garden, full of bright and fragrant flowers. The views are superb and it’s easy to socially distance.

I don't know why I can't plan to go to this place when all the flowers are in bloom. I always seem to get there with only a small portion of them are. I still love the place as it is beautiful in the spring and summer. I just need to do a better job of getting there

One of the best parts of our city visit was our stroll through this splendid garden. Obviously it is better in the spring, but the roses were still blooming and the variety is impressive. Beautiful park.

This is FREE to visit, and is absolutely breathtaking. Pictures don’t even come close to capturing how pretty it is! Even if you have to park far (we did) there are beautiful maintained trails up through forest that make the walk short and enjoyable. Visit the Japanese Garden while you’re here too!

This was one of the highlights to my Portland visit. Roses were in full bloom and it wasn’t too crowded there. I only have videos and no pics so I can’t upload to TripAdvisor but please know that this place is gorgeous and peaceful.

Well, this is nice little place. VERY busy but smelt nice and quite interesting with many of the individual flowers dated - some very old!

There is a stall nearby selling coffee and some snacks and the shuttle bus is free to take you there.

The garden is free and is define or the good wander around as there’s plenty to see.

We visited the International Rose Test Garden on a Thursday in August. It was midday when we arrived and not too crowded. There is no fee to enter this park, which was incredible for how large it is. There are many, many feet of gardens to explore. As the title suggests, this place is seriously fragrant. There is also a cute little gift shop that was giving out samples of rose tea, which was interesting. Definitely would recommend visiting if the roses are in bloom and you're in Portland.

What a beautiful fall day to enjoy the roses! A must see when visiting Portland! Take your time and stop and smell the roses

Do not miss this - it's a beautiful park, with SO MANY varieties of roses, and it's FREE! Washington Park also has a free shuttle bus that transports folks between the several key areas of the park!

I was in awe of all the amazing colors of roses. They are all stunningly beautiful to look at. Can’t pick a favorite part cause it’s all so amazing!

Blooms everywhere...and I visited past peak season! Strolling through these roses and admiring the colors, scents, and ambiance was a perfect respite from hectic travel plans. I'm happy it wasn't crowded with people...

I loved the rose garden. Free entry with beautiful roses ALL over the place. I went in June and everything was in bloom and beautiful!

The colors, the smells, the sheer beauty! Definitely add a visit to your Portland wishlist. Great if you are traveling solo or with the fam.

It’s not a huge rose garden like the Keukenhof tulip garden in Netherlands or flower gardens in Furano Hokkaido. A nice place to stretch the legs. There’s toilet n a gift shop. Two small food trucks were on the premises but both were not open when we arrived at about 11am.
Many bushes of roses. Some were blooming.
The walkways are mostly paved so u don’t have to get mud on your shoes. It’s run by volunteers n free. Go on a weekday n parking should not be a problem

This is easy. We love Japanese gardens. Several years ago we were in Japan and visited many exquisitely beautiful gardens. This is the best Japanese garden we've ever seen outside of Japan.

We visited on Oct. 14, on a drizzly day, past the prime flower season . . . and it was still magnificently beautiful.

Don't miss it.

Though I love flowers but I got confused which red is my fav red rose. Wow the size the quality.2 gud

After visiting the Japanese Garden, the Rose Test Garden is just across the street. It is a nice area with trails through Washington Park.

What a beautiful part of the Washington Park. The Rose Garden was still in beautiful bloom even in October. We went early so some of the darker colored roses sparkled in the early afternoon sun with dew.

This was a large garden full of many varieties of roses. One of the most interesting things is that the prettiest roses were usually the ones with the least smell! Very nice and Japanese gardens are nearby along with the Zoo.

This is a place where you can get lost in the Rose smells and can spend all day walking around. So much to do with in walking distance you can have a great day in the park, very cool place !!

My son had visited these rose gardens before and thought I would enjoy them. I did indeed. There are hundreds of variations of roses. If you want to do something free while in Portland, I would definitely but it on my to do list.

Not very impressive. They have a lot of roses but most are mixed with other types of roses, which isn’t all bad but they have engineered the smell completely out of the rose. The engineered roses don’t have any smell and for the entire field of roses not to smell was very disappointing. Maybe you might not mind, but I wonder that it smelled like before they started engineering the roses?

It is hard to imagine a dedicated rose garden that would be more impressive than this one, so I'm giving it a '5'.

The garden is located in Washington Park, not far from downtown Portland. The only real challenge here is parking. The adjacent lot is quite small, so be prepared to drive past the garden and down the twisty hillside road. There are spaces along here with varying degrees of difficulty in parallel parking (not all spaces require that). You will pay to park, but the garden itself is free.

Once you hike back up to the garden, you are rewarded with an explosion of colors. There are about 3 distinct tiers of large flower beds. You begin at the top tier and can descend to the lower ones via several sets of stairs. The different types of roses are labeled.

Based on my limited experience with Portland weather, you are more likely to get sunshine after noon or 1 p.m., at least when we visited in July. Bright sunshine will help with any photography you do here (and you'll probably want to take a number of photos of the roses).

This is a really beautiful spot and is well worth a stop.

The views from the hill overlooking Portland and the mighty mt Hood on the background this garden has an incredible display of Roses, and a magnificent scent arises from the flowery mass. You can lay on the grasses and enjoy the beautiful scent of the flowers!
Worth a trip!

A nice garden for a quiet peaceful walk. The roses are lovely although we visit the garden in October. I’m sure it will be mesmerising during the blossoming season.

Not really my thing but we went as it was opposite the Japanese garden.

A large selection of roses planted which you can walk through and buy.

Free, so worth a visit.

Enjoying my daily walks in Washington Park. April 29, 2020.

The photo is of a statue erected in the park. The park is wonderful for picnics, jogging and casual strolls. It’s early yet but the Rose Garden will bloom like madness when the sun gets here.

The Rose Garden is spectacular and they are building a new section in the garden, like a champions circle concept. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

We knew there wouldn’t be a bunch of flowers (our bike tour guide called it a “thorn garden”) but we still went up. Even in March it was a pretty space. There aren’t roses this time of year, but the camellias are pretty and the view is awesome!

What beauty! What fragrance! 10,000 rose bushes all blooming. The colors were breathtaking, some roses small and some quite large. Lots of green grass!

A nice way to get out of the city and smell the roses (ha!). Quite peaceful and really pretty to see.

Visited this location on July 6th and easily caught public transport to do so.
Obviously depending on the time of the year will determine the blooms but we were super fortunate to see the garden in it's prime.

Additionally, if visiting this garden (free) the Japanese Garden is located right next to it. Sadly for us, the Japanese garden was closed during our visit.

Nevertheless, it was worth the visit to see, feel and smell the sights on offer here and I'd advise getting a packed lunch and doing a picnic or something to really sit and soak it all in.

While visiting Portland, we took the MAX to Washington Park and then the free park shuttle to the Int'l Rose Test Garden. We enjoyed wandering around, taking photos, smelling the roses, reading the amusing rose names and taking in the spectacular views over Portland. We also visited the quality gift shop where we purchased a Christmas ornament.

Perhaps we weren't there at the best time (Late August) as some were slightly over and while we found the collection to be good, the experience was slightly underwhelming and no better than the Balboa Park rose garden in our own city of San Diego -- perhaps we were expecting a bit more 'wow'.

After the Rose Garden, we spent time in the adjacent Japanese Garden (Entrance fee required) and rounded out our day's visit at the Hoyt Arboretum.

Note: The rose garden is free.

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This garden is very large, very accessible, and free!
We were there in late August and tons of things were in bloom.
The only criticism I have is about the "Shakespeare Garden"
It needs a better explanation/better signage.
What are the plants there? what makes it Shakespeare's Garden?
There is no explanation of what those plants are and why they are relevant,
it's just some rando plants with no signs and no explanation.
It could be so much more meaningful, especially to someone who is a Shakespeare fan.

We visited the Portland Art Museum today and was pleased to see a variety of great art. They had examples of Chinese art and, many paintings by famous artists including a Georges de LaTour of Mary Magdalene. The biggest surprise was the sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas. We would love to return when we have more time.

We actually arrived early morning and just walked around. So pretty even in the fall with the leaves changing colors. Just beautiful!

A really beautiful garden with so many stunning flowers in a picturesque setting above the city. The whole park is lovely but the rose garden is something special you just don’t find elsewhere!

Free to walk around and 1000s of roses. We were at the end of the bloom and we came right after the Japanese Garden. Wish we came here first and skipped the garden.

This is part of Washington Park and you need to search for Washington Park in Google Maps. It’s just opposite to Japanese Garden but it is FREE.

Excellent place for wedding photography and child/baby photography. Awesome blooms and the garden is very well maintained. Words cannot describe the beauty of these blooms in different colors. You will also learn what rose to pick for planting in your yard. Mostly street parking but not hard to find !

Had a blast today touring the beautiful rose gardens. Everyone stayed 6 ft apart or wore masks. Everything roses there that you could ever imagine!!

These gardens were so beautiful. So many plants with so many blossoms!! Such a treat! A most beautiful setting for photos and family events.

If you like roses you should definitely visit this "garden". Hundreds of different roses and they were all in bloom!

We took the Max to the Washington Park stop, took the elevator to the entrance level of the park and then caught the free Washington Park Free Shuttle to the stop for the 'International Rose Test Garden' [free] and 'Portland Japanese Garden' [a fee]. The shuttle schedule varies ~ at that time the shuttle was running every 15 minutes. The shuttle gave us a wonderful overview of the areas of the park. On this trip we only went to the International Rose Test Garden and spent over two hours enjoying the garden. It was a clear, sunny weekday and the garden was not crowded. May through September are the prime viewing times for the roses ~ but our visit in October had wonderful colors everywhere. The layout and selection were beautiful and since it was a nice clear day we could even see Mount Hood from the parking area. We are looking forward to visiting again early next year.

it was November so a lot of the roses were gone. but still some to see in the winter months. A nice casual walk among beautiful flowers

The pictures don't do this rose garden justice. We spent a couple of hrs there just walking around & smelling the roses. No charge to get in, but there is a charge to park. Go! You won't regret it!

As far as really neat places in Portland, Oregon go (and it’s not called the City of Roses for nothing), this one really takes the cake (proverbially speaking). Basically, the International Rose Test Garden is what I’d call a highly awesome place to go — especially for those who want to stop and smell the roses from time to time, and for those who are photographers and have a liking for nature photography and capturing nature on film.

Plus, the really neat thing about the International Rose Test Garden is that it's free (which makes it different from the Japanese Gardens, although the Japanese Gardens are quite nice in their own way as well).

Located in Washington Park, this place really helps when it comes to inspiring people and showing them the beauty in nature. There are so many roses of every color and size that it can be hard to take them in all at once. So, it is best to take it in one step at a time.

Also, those who are photographers will really take a liking to this place, as they will find plenty of photo opportunities when it comes to the roses. 😇😎

In conclusion, I highly recommend the International Rose Test Garden for anyone who loves nature, photography or both. Also, I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better). 😎

Garden is located in a residential neighborhood and we walked over from our lodging. Lovely layout with paths, a fountain and many new and interesting varieties. I especially liked the chocolate varieties - reds with brown overtones. We came in late September, so many varieties had already bloomed, but there were still thousands to enjoy. We went around supper time, so not too many people there. Worth the visit, if you like roses.

Free activity in Washington Park! Just make sure to know if flowers are actually blooming when you are planning to go.

Never known that there were so many different types of roses beautiful amazing definitely worth the trip

Well worth the time. The garden is absolutely beautiful, covered with roses of all colors and shape, some we had never seen before.Dogs are allowed!

This is a stop you must make while visiting Portland! Even in September the roses were beautiful and so fragrant. The varieties are astounding. A treat for all and a great gift shop too!

Great place to visit, relax and stop to smell the roses. So many different kinds of roses, each with its own scent, colour, size. Just remember to enjoy their beauty without taking any souvenirs!

We had to spend some time in Portland while waiting to collect a friend at the train station, so we went to the rose garden. It wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was a great choice. The roses were just starting to bloom so there was some color, just enough to make e want to come back in June! The set-up was nice--the garden is on several levels, so it provides different viewpoints. Roses are not my favorite flower, but there are so many different types and colors that you can't help but be captivated. From the garden it's an easy walk down to the statues and Holocaust memorial.

I'm not really sure why this is Portland's top attraction. For plant folks, this is probably neat, but for everyone to rate this 5 stars is pretty amazing. It is what it is - a hillside chunk of roses. That's nice for like 5 minutes top. After that, there's not much in the way of entertainment. It is free, so that's swell, but you do have to pay for limited parking. It's not a bad attraction, I just do not understand why this is considered the best thing to do. If I never saw this, I'd probably be ok. Take it or leave it.

They've got them by the thousands here. But don't pick them! That would be frowned upon. Have I reached 100 characters? Yes.

We visisted the rose garden at the end of September so unfortunately, most of the roses were past their best. This has no way affected our score though, as I can imaging in the height of summer, this place would be stunning. If you stood up close, you could still get that lovely rose fragrance from many of the roses and it was interesting to see how different the fragrances were from the different types of rose. The walk-ways were lovely and we saw many squirrels and some rabbits. In fact, I saw the biggest squirrel I've ever seen, who was busy stuffing his cheeks of the acorns falling from the trees. It's a pity we had not timed this to see the roses in full bloom but if I was a local, I would enjoy walking around here at any time of year. It would be nice to have a little cafe/restaurant here.

Lovely garden with so many gorgeous blooms. Easy to walk around and enjoy all the flowers. To top it off it's FREE!

The International Rose Test Garden is a beautiful park of an incredible number of different roses. Well maintained.
Description of the roses could be improved. The majority of the various roses come from a small number of nurseries.

I really enjoyed walking through here and seeing all the roses! With not much to do during Covid, the rose garden makes a great adventure!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this rose garden! My partner and I are relatively new to Portland and really enjoy visiting when the roses bloom. I've taken my family, friends, and business partners when they visit and they fall in love. Highly recommend taking folks visiting to this beautiful garden.

The rose garden was beautiful and I left feeling inspired.

Be aware that there are lots of car break-ins. We made a quick stop on the way to the airport and they stole our luggage. Hope this helps someone.

Beautiful, free rose garden. Would have rated it higher if parking had been easier. Would have appreciated some sort of map with rose names and descriptions.

Not appropriate for those with mobility issues.

This is a free attraction in Washington Park. Several acres of roses of every discription with beautiful views of the city of Portland for background.

Beautiful roses to casually admire and smell. Loved it. Loved taking pictures of my favorite roses names yo purchase myself

This was the perfect activity for our 2 hours between checking out of our hotel and going to the airport. We spent about 1.5 hours here, and that included photographing 75 flowers. The roses were so beautiful. Don't wear white shoes like I did if it is sprinkling. The ground can be kind of dirty or wet.
Great activity for all ages.

Glad I went even tho roses were starting to lose their best color. I enjoyed them anyway and weather was good.

The International Rose Garden was beautiful. If you like Roses, you have to visit here. A wonderful trip out of the city!! There's a bus that drops you off right at the gate.

What a lovely place to wander around, either briefly just to appreciate the gardens, or you could spend ages finding out about all of the different roses being grown. There are hundreds of different roses in every colour imaginable, laid out and maintained beautifully.
A really nice place to spend some relaxing time. Personally I could have done without the buskers though.
Note: There are various car parks within Washington Park. The one closest to the Rose Garden is very small but a parking ticket covers all of them, so you can move around.

“A rose garden?? What’s that?? Honey, that sounds sinister and a terrible idea.”

Yeah if you tolerate endless rows of rose bushes and beautiful fur trees and the like, you might like this place.

But if you want to avoid outdoor beauty in places where you can take stunning pictures, don’t go here.

My family and I were amazed by the number and variety of roses. Many spots to sit and enjoy the views and fragrances.

Well designed grounds. It much was in bloom when we went in May. Not as spectacular as the Japanese Gardens nearby. Spend less than one hour here.

We really enjoyed our time at the International Rose Tes Garden. The area is well kept, and the roses are abundant. We walked around for about 40 minutes and took lots of pictures. They have restroom facilities, a small food stand and a small gift shop. There is no charge for admission - but you can make a donation if you choose. Parking is all around the area and it may take a few minutes to find a spot.

gigantic space filled with a smorgasbord of colorful flowers. i can only imagine what the place looks like during peak season in the spring. takes more than an hour to admire all the different plants. completely free except for the parking fee if you drive to the park! right next to the Japanese Garden, make it a two-fer trip.

This garden is enormous with too many rose varietals to count. They weren't all in bloom yet but still, the smell was wonderful...

This is a must see when in Portland

A stroll thru the many rows of different types of roses with colors, sizes, shapes, and smells galore can be a pleasant afternoon adventure when they are in bloom. You also can get a view of Downtown Portland from parts of the Garden

I love gardens, my travel companions didn't, so I walked up from my downtown hotel while they had happy hour. Looked easy on navigation but be aware it's QUITE an uphill walk, took 40 minutes. Felt comfortable as an older women walking alone. I had an hour to wander before sunset, and it was magical. All kinds of roses in orderly rows plus mature, more naturalized plantings and pathways that call out to the history of the place, storybook vibes. If you have mobility issues, be aware there is uneven terrain, but you can see a rose vista from the paved areas. Families with kids might enjoy the open space to roam. This garden was a highlight of my first trip to Portland and as memorable as gardens in Holland. Getting a Lyft to my next stop was easy, there were a couple obvious spots to meet a rideshare.

The garden is free but you pay to park.. Great selection of rose varieties to view in a beautiful setting.. Close to the Japanese Garden which is convenient.

No charge to see the winning roses going back a century. Roses grow fabulously in Portland, also known as a "Gardener's Paradise." Be sure to stop and see the Shakespeare garden, where plants mentioned in his works are on display in a captivating, private little area.

The International Rose Test Garden was such a nice stop on our trip. We only had a brief amount of time in the morning and were very glad we stopped here. Beautiful, floral, and extremely relaxing! Could easily spend all morning or afternoon walking amongst the roses and enjoying the space. We’d hoped to include the Japanese Garden, however they were closed on the day we went. Still were not disappointed with this stop!

What a wonderful adventure! So many lovely roses. Go on a clear day to get the most beautiful experience.

It is a beautiful place to visit, and it is a perfect stop after running up the hill from the city. The flowers 🌹 and city views are incredible. I would recommend it if you have some time to take a break.

The rose garden is absolutely beautiful, located next to the Japanese garden. It is a beautiful park showcasing a wide variety of roses. This should absolutely be on your list for Portland. There are so many photo opportunities with lots of colors all around.

Beautifully maintained rose garden, lots of colour of Rose's different varieties, the ambience is exotic and must see place in portland , benches available to sit and relax but not during winter summer is best time ,have visited during all seasons and loved the place and the variety of roses.

I realize I visited at the tail end of the rose season. However, the shear volume of roses and the beauty of the park make it worth it!

We got off the free shuttle at the Rose garden and were blown away, it was just spectacular! We walked through 4.5 acres with over 10,000 plantings and 600 different varieties. Each Rose was marked with a name, date & code where we could get more information. We took so many photos here, my iPhone didn’t give all the colors justice. It was so fragrant yet they were no peas or insects visible. I’m glad I took an allergy pill this morning before we left.

There were clean bathrooms, lots of shady places to sit, a food truck, and a gift shop.

It is impossible to give this rose garden less than five stars if you are here when the roses are blooming. We arrived early, so were able to get one of the limited parking spots (paid of course). We spent about 45 minutes to an hour walking around looking at all the blooms. There were lots of volunteers around to answer questions about the roses. The Japanese Garden is a few steps away if you have time and is well worth a visit.

Interesting garden. I have never heard about a test garden, but I was able to understand why it is called in that way. I visited during the winter so I was not able to see the flowers, but I got to learn how things are working here.

The International Rose Test Garden contains over 600 varieties of roses over several acres in Washington Park. Even though it was July, most of the bushes were still in bloom, and there were so many unique and gorgeous flowers.

The garden is completely free to visit, though you do need to pay for parking. It was easy to find and pay for a spot. There is a small gift shop, and it's right across the street from the Japanese Garden. A must-visit in the City of Roses!

If you like roses you will want to stop here. Very pretty grounds. This is right across the street from the Japanese Garden, which we did not originally know when we were thinking of stopping here also. Lots of varieties and colors of roses makes for some good photos.

Huge rose garden located int he park in the middle of town. You could spend hour walking through and reading about all type of roses that are available in this garden. Free entry and parking is available all around the park.

This is a free and impressive rose garden, taking up several acres of Washington Park. When we visited, there was a wedding, very beautiful. Though it is a very nice attraction, I think this attraction could be enhanced by more signage, explaining how new varieties are created, illustrating past prizes winners with photographs, and more information in general about this fascinating flowering plant. Still, it is a must-see attraction.

We got there at 830a. Cool, sunny day with very few people. It was perfect for a slow meandering walk, this area is still free of charge, with a minimal parking fee. Great location!

This stunning display of roses is free and open to the public. There are formal gardens with dozens of varieties of these spectacular flowers. Located in Washington Park, it is one of the many worthwhile features of this urban wonderland that includes a botanical garden and miles of trails.

Honestly, I was not overly excited to visit the rose garden, but I was pleasantly surprised! It is a great activity to do before or after the Japanese Garden. The roses are so pretty, it is breathtaking. It Is free and they have a nice restroom, which is always a plus!

We had a great time walking around the Rose Garden, even though we went relatively late (around 8 pm, but got free parking and the sun was just setting at 9 pm!). There are so many varieties of beautiful roses, in all colors, shapes, sizes, and smells. We walked around for an hour, but could have easily spent more time if we'd arrived earlier. We took hundreds of pictures!

I got there early, found a parking spot in the rose lot, and enjoyed my time with all of the beautiful roses. I was probably a week or two too late as many were starting to wilt due to the heat but they were beautiful just the same. I’m glad I came there at 10am in order for parking to be available and there to be less of a crowd; it was still pretty busy for a Monday morning.

Visited twice in 3 days was in Portland. Free admission. Even in August plenty of roses blooming. A fair amount of people but not overly crowded. People wearing masks and social distancing.

Place was to goood I like the place very much I will come again I will never forget this place I will tell my friends to visit here see you soon

Beautiful Rose gardens! The history and the importance this place has is spectacular. Great leisurely walk and is wheelchair friendly.

Just a few steps from the Japanese Garden, you'll find the Rose Test Garden. Rows and rows of beautiful flowers of an unbelievable variety of colors. Gardeners will love it.

One of my favorite places to visit every June to see the beautiful rose garden. Truly a benefit of living near Portland

After morning coffee I walked from the river to the rose garden. It was a good hike and uphill. The garden is located at a very high point of the city offering a view of Mt. Hood on a clear day. The garden was lovely and they have a nice gift shop with beverages including a rose lemonade that was delicious! No entrance fee too,

Went here at the end of September and expected there wouldn’t be many blooming roses. Were we ever wrong. This is an amazing rose garden - best we have ever seen. Huge and beautiful and free. The Japanese garden across the the road was a bit pricey and our time did not allow for it anyway. Beautiful Place - go there

This was part of a larger bus tour we did, with the Gardens being included in our package. Although we probably would not have chosen to see this on our own, the gardens were lovely, very well-maintained and laid-out, and the gift shop was also quite nice.

Roses of every color, size, description and scent in a beautiful setting. It was also easy getting here on mass transit.

Not well organized. A brochure or self guided tour would have helped. Nice gift shop. A bit muddy...

Amazing collection of roses and various flowers. We are not particularly interested in Roses but you can’t help but be impressed by this

Plenty of roses are blooming at the beginning of June, so visitors can see (and smell) buds and flowers in every stage of blossom. While rose aficionados will enjoy learning details and exploring the entire garden, the casual visitor will enjoy roses near the entrance. We did have to go down some steps from the street to the garden; handrails are present.

Gorgeous. Everything in full bloom. There's a shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes that will take you to Hoyt Arboretum. Fabulous trails, redwood forest, absolutely gorgeous. Do that, too.

The number and variety of roses was an awesome sight. It was thoroughly enjoyable and a great spot to relax and enjoy the view.

The variety of roses and wonderful aromas made this garden a walking delight. The paths are marked with grading signs so you can choose the one you’re most comfortable with.

We went super early and just strolled slowly through this beautiful park. The roses are just fabulous and so many variteies.

Beautiful place to visit with a huge variety of all kind of roses and it’s FREE!!! It’s a must for anyone visiting Portland

We visited in mid-September after most of the roses had bloomed, but it was still a wonderous experience. The variety and colors of the roses remaining were amazing. The paths through the many rose bushes allows you to meander through the gardens, and the fragrance from the flowers fills the air with a heavenly fragrance. I look forward to returning when the roses are in full bloom.

My grandmother loved roses and touring the gardens brought back many memories. Wide assortment of colors, shapes, sizes and smells. Plenty of places to sit and think throughout the walk.

I took my wife to the rose garden. Even in the cold and rain we braved it. This is such a beautiful site the city haves. The roses smell wonderful and beautiful to look at . Even in the rain they were beautiful to photograph. I would recommend this place to anybody that visit Portland. It is well worth the time.

Came with a friend when checking out the Japanese garden as they’re right next to each other. This is a stunning section of roses - the colors are phenomenal. It’s free to do and definitely worth a stop.

After being disappointed with the Japanese garden we crossed over to the rose test, what an absolute delight, I would actually have been happy to pay for this!!

There were still loads of flower's out and information about the garden as well as the names of the roses

Perfect end to our Portland adventures!!

We waited for parking spot for a long time. We were looking for smell, natural smell that was non existent.

We had high expectation for this place given it's TA ranking. Sure, they have lots of pretty roses. But it's mostly just row after row of plants. Once you've seen the first 25 rows, they get pretty repetitive.

Took the Trimet Max Lite Rail from downtown to Washington Park ($2.50).The rail stops right at the site however, the rail is underground. Took elevators up to the ground level. Waited outside for the free mini air-con shuttle. Driver was socialable. Along the way, it makes pit stops to the other sites in the park. The park is free. When I stepped onto the Rose Garden, the smell of those flowers were imminent. The view of all those vibrant colors was amazing. Photograph many and smelled lots! Nearby was a food truck selling snowcones. After a while, took to one of the benches on the grounds (under some shade), sat in front of the bushes & had my refreshment. So peaceful. This garden is an icon, any tourists of all ages should come experience it. Highly recommend a visit.

Visited Portland on a girls trip up the coast. This area was a beautiful display of all varieties of roses. They offered descriptions of the roses along with QR codes for potential orders. Large area to walk around and smell the roses as they say. Also had seating areas that could be used to rest or sit and read. Can also walk various areas of Washington Park from this location.

Beautiful and well maintained garden with different varieties of roses and amazing colors. Parking is an issue so plan accordingly. Take allergy medicine if you head out there.

This is a great, free stop in Portland. The roses are beautiful, and it's interesting to see all the varieties in one spot!

My husband and I spent a sunny afternoon at the International Rose Test Garden and found it absolutely worth the visit. The gardens are stunning — rows upon rows of vibrant roses in full bloom, with breathtaking colors and varieties. It's a beautifully maintained space, perfect for taking photos, or simply relaxing and enjoying the views (including a lovely one of Mount Hood on a clear day!).

This is a top-notch, free Portland experience.

This was the best part of our trip to Portland. So colorful and so many varieties! We were there late August and it was absolutely gorgeous. And big bonus is it’s free.

Drove around for 30 minutes before getting a parking space. Lots of people, and lots of roses. Overall, the garden is just a so so. I have seen better ...

The International Rose Test Garden is a true gem! The vibrant colors and delightful scents are amazing, and it’s a fantastic spot for snapping some memorable photos. It’s easy to get to with plenty of parking, making it a relaxing and enjoyable place to visit.

Was pleasantly overwhelmed by the size and variety of flowers and all for free! Could have lost myself in there for the whole day. Well maintained and an absolute must if you are visiting the area!

The layout of the garden is lovely, with various sections showcasing different types of roses, including hybrid teas, floribundas, and climbing roses. There are also great photo opportunities throughout the garden.

Large space with tons gorgeous flowers and in a great space. Has the Japanese garden nearby as well as other attractions.

We had an awkward amount of time when leaving Oregon before going to the airport. The International Rose Test Garden was just the place to fill that extra 1.5 hours! It was so gorgeous, the fragrance was abundant, it was very well kept, and people were great about letting each family stay together and view particular spots together. Just to let you know how beautiful and unique the roses were, I took 71 photos and turned 3 of them into canvases for art for our home.
Highly recommend!

We had planned to go to the Japanese Garden but looked at the Rose garden while we waiting for it to open. We ended up enjoying the Rose Test garden so much that we passed on the Japanese Garden to explore the roses more!

Beautiful atmosphere and a sensory delight! There was a musician playing, which added nice soundtrack to our visit. We enjoyed reading the names of the roses, and the “fragrant” markers on the most fragrant roses. The award winning roses were marked and easy to find.

There were public restrooms, paved paths and the ramps had the angles written out, along with directions to a less steep ramp if needed. We didn’t do a guided tour, but I’m sure that would be great too. It’s worth the visit!

Me and my new husband came to this Garden on our honeymoon to Portland. We were very impressed with this garden and we loved the fact that we didn’t have to pay to get in! Although I did spend a little bit of money in the gift shop… We also really loved that we could bring our dog with us. Her name is Rosie and we kept saying “a Rosie in a rose garden”. She really enjoyed being in there and smelling new smells. I will definitely return to this garden! I was very impressed!

November is not the month to visit the Rose Garden. Nothing is blooming. Just lots of green and some good views. Its still a lovely walk, but if you're going to look at roses (assuming you're going during November) you're in for a bad time. When they bloom it'll be gorgeous though!

The Roses are amazing. The area is well kept. Definately a must do in Portland.
The shuttle is a bonus.

We stumbled upon the garden and are so glad we did. The roses are amazing and interesting to look at! We could have spent more time here!

While amazing and beautiful, this is also a scientific rose garden! The best times are June through November. It's still beautiful in winter, but roses hibernate (not a scientific term)

We happened to be there when most were in bloom. Lots of roses to see and smell. Take a picnic and enjoy some of the many benches or outdoor amphitheater. Parking is not free but $2 an hour. There are bathrooms.

I’m not a huge fan of roses but this garden was absolutely beautiful and it’s free so, yay! You will have to pay for parking unless you’re already walking around the park but it was $2/hour while we were there so not bad. It’s very hard to find parking but if you keep looking you’ll eventually find a spot. We went to the garden and walked around for about 45 minutes and saw a good amount of roses. It was busy and a lot of people are there taking formal photos so just be ready for that but it was a great time! There’s also a small gift shop nearby but they didn’t have a great selection of merch.

These rose gardens are a must see if you are visiting Portland. Not only do you get to see and smell an abundance of roses like you’ve never seen before, you also get a great view of the city and mount hood.

We spent about 1 1/2 hours in the test Garden, never realized there were so many varieties of Roses, we took some amazing photos. They also have a map of the roses so if you have a rose you would like to see, the map is extremely helpful.

Beautiful roses of all colors more than my wife and I have ever seen in one spot. Fortunately, all roses were in bloom when we were there in August. It's free to walk or sit and enjoy the scenery. We went here after we visited the Japanese gardens which are just above this spot. WE had taken public transportation to get here so there were no problems with parkinmg.

Wow! Mind blowing roses in every color and variety! It’s a priority next time we visit!😂😍🥰

The grounds are child friendly and pet friendly. There is an icecream stand and a precious gift shop at the top of the rose garden. Lots of rose gifts from lip balm to fun hats!

Our entire group, even husbands, enjoyed the roses. Lots of positive vibes🥰

One of the best rose gardens in the world. So many beautiful types of roses, some of them very unique. My daughters and I loved this garden.

We visited the International Rose Test Garden after a hike through the awesome Hoyt Arboretum. The gardens are extensive and absolutely gorgeous. We have visited other test gardens but have never seen one as large as this one. Well laid out, with stunning flowers.

Accessible from anywhere in Washington Park by way of their free shuttle service. (recommend taking the shuttle to get oriented in the park and enjoy some easy sightseeing)

Walked through the Rose Garden early afternoon today. The scent of the roses is heavenly. I think if I had gone a couple weeks earlier the roses would be more in full bloom. They are still gorgeous, but many of the roses were starting to wilt. I managed to get several awesome photos. Great view of Portland too while you're there. There was plenty of pay parking still available at 1:00 pm, but was filling up fast. We spent about an hour.

I was walking along near the holocaust memorial (highly recommended) and I saw a small field of roses, absolutely beautiful. Especially coming from someone who has lived in AZ my entire life; rose garden was just out of the question. I continued with my walk and realized there was not just one field, but many fields! It was such an amazing site. I couldn't put it into words honestly. Just a great walk through on a warm summer day in Portland.

The roses are not really at their finest in October but still worth the time
We were at the Japanese Gardens and the Rose garden is just across the road
There is a huge display of very pretty flowers and the pathways thru the various plots is very nice

Wow! So beautiful. Several places to sit and enjoy the beauty. And so wonderful to be able to walk through the rows and rows of roses. Some have a delightful scent. Don’t miss this.

I went to visit the International Rose Test Garden while visiting Portland. I rode the public transportation out to the zoo, then caught the free shuttle to the garden - very easy, inexpensive and handy! The gardens are beautiful and smell lovely! They are very well maintained and it was a nice sunny day when I was there so a perfect walk through the roses. They had a Shakespeare garden as well. I enjoyed taking LOTS of photos and seeing the yearly rose winners of the past years. Go enjoy the garden!

The garden is very beautiful. I love the variation in colors and sizes. They have a few water ornaments as well.

Amazing experience seeing so many different kinds of roses. You can go at your own pace and the roses smell and look beautiful. Would recommend this to anyone visiting.

The most amazing roses. some were bigger than our hands! Brilliant colors & the aroma was intoxicating!

Love the beauty and incredible views that surround the Rose gardens- Amazing date place, great photos, nice walk and the beautiful city off in the distance!!!

First time visiting this rose garden with my family and everyone loved it. Nice place to take lots of pictures and enjoy time to smell the roses. Will definitely go back next year when the weather is warm and roses are in bloom. Lots of benches to sit if you pack a lunch.

A delightful respite from the city. I suggest you get there early to avoid crowds. The varieties are endless, the colors astounding, not to be missed.

A wonderful, informative walk through a beautiful rose garden. If you love roses, don't miss this. There is a trolley that stops here and will pick you back up.

Still pretty in November! Avoid the gift shoppe if your short on time.

Avoid parking ad you first drive in. Even in November, parking was stressful. I think if you go past the Japanese gardens, you’ll be dropped into a sanctuary of plentiful parallel parking. I think it may even be free?

Worth a stop! Roses still seen in November which is crazy!

Gorgeous! We could have stayed all day. The Trolls are really a sight to see. Everything was beautiful and the staff were fantastic.

My four teenage sons dreaded coming here, but once here, they explored the entire area & said it was the best part of their day! Something for everyone to love.

This is a must visit in Portland. If you take public transportation take the public train . You get off at the station where the zoo is. From there you can walk (about 40 minutes) or take the free shuttle to the Rose Garden. If you arrive by car the parking is tricky as it is limited. The Rose Gardens are free to get in. There are many varieties of roses. Take the time to see where the different roses are from.

Of course the best time of year for roses is summer (May to early October, my bike tour guide told me!). Everything was wonderful and so fragrant. I can’t say enough about the garden: I suggest early morning before the crowds (and maximum fragrance too)

We went in September 2018 (two years ago) right after visiting the Portland Japanese Gardens. This place was AMAZING! I have never seen a rose garden with such variety! I was smelling each and every single one. Even if you’re not interested in flowers, this award-winning garden is a must-see at least once in your lifetime. It truly was magnificent!

The garden is always a treat to see, and the wide variety of roses is absolutely stunning. Spend around an hour here.

Actually...the worst we've ever seen it in terms of bed maintenance! And it's just before the serious tourist season. I understand it's maintained by volunteers, but someone needs to better organize this. Alternatively, perhaps it is time to adopt the Butchart Gardens model. Also, I tried to find where volunteers sign up. It was a mystery. Surely, that should be a loud shout?

So now I know how Portland gets the nickname Rose City. Row after row of beautiful flowers, but more then that, it's and education. Looking at one variety, I learned that the flower changes from brilliant yellow to deep red during it's lifespan. Walking distance to the Japanese gardens, spending time here before or after makes for a peaceful and restorative outing.

Walked to this from the city centre - easy to find and only around 20 mins walk to it. Lovely oasis in the city with lots of beautiful flowers. Free to get in which was good and appreciated.

This is a cant miss if you visit Portland Oregon while this is in bloom. Many many different rose varieties, ( my favorite of which is Viking Queen) you have plenty of parking up top, you walk down into the "bowl" on a day when it is not windy, the smell of the different roses is phenomenal when you first walk down there. There is a vantage point down there where you can see Mt. Hood in the distance on a clear day, there is public art there to view, water fountains, trails, and there are summer concerts down there as well.

The grounds of the test rose garden are peaceful and serene. We had never seen so many varieties of roses before! Spent about an hour there, free admission was appreciated. Don't miss it while in Portland.